遊俠列傳

Han Feizi said: 'Scholars use their writings to undermine the law; knight-errants use force to transgress prohibitions.' Both are censured, yet scholars have praised them throughout the ages. As for those who rose to chancellor or minister through political skill, supporting their sovereign with lasting fame and achievement recorded in the annals — there is nothing to add. Then there are men like Ji Ci and Yuan Xian, commoners of the back alleys, who studied books and cherished the independent virtue of the solitary gentleman, disdaining to compromise with their times — and their times laughed at them. Thus Ji Ci and Yuan Xian lived their whole lives in empty rooms with thatched doors, clad in rough cloth, eating coarse food without complaint. They have been dead for over four hundred years, yet their disciples commemorate them tirelessly. Now the knight-errants: though their conduct does not conform to orthodox righteousness, their word is always kept, their actions are always decisive, their promises are always fulfilled. They do not spare their own lives, rushing to the aid of those in distress. Having already decided matters of life and death, they do not boast of their abilities or take pride in their virtue. There is indeed much to admire in them.

Zhu Jia of Lu was a contemporary of Emperor Gaozu. The people of Lu were all devoted to Confucian teaching, yet Zhu Jia was famous as a knight-errant. The number of powerful men he sheltered and saved reached into the hundreds; the ordinary people he helped were beyond counting. Yet he never boasted of his abilities or took pride in his virtue; among all those he had helped, he dreaded being recognized. When he aided the destitute, he began with the poorest and lowest. His household had no surplus wealth; his clothes were not properly dyed; his food was plain; he rode nothing better than a yoked ox-cart. He devoted himself wholly to others' emergencies, prioritizing them over his own needs. After he secretly rescued General Ji Bu from danger, and Ji Bu later rose to high rank, Zhu Jia never saw him again for the rest of his life. East of the passes, everyone craned their necks in hope of forming a connection with him.

Tian Zhong of Chu was known as a knight-errant and loved swordsmanship. He served Zhu Jia as a disciple would a father, considering his own conduct inferior. After Tian Zhong died, Luoyang had Ju Meng. The people of Zhou normally relied on trade and commerce, but Ju Meng made his name among the feudal lords through personal loyalty. When Wu and Chu rebelled, the Marquis of Tiao, serving as Grand Commandant, was traveling by relay carriage toward Henan when he encountered Ju Meng. He exclaimed with delight: 'Wu and Chu have raised their great enterprise without recruiting Meng — I know they cannot succeed!' The realm was in turmoil, yet the chancellor considered gaining Ju Meng as valuable as gaining an enemy state.

Guo Jie was a man of Zhi, styled Wengbo. He was the maternal grandson of the famous physiognomist Xu Fu. Guo Jie's father had been a knight-errant and was executed under Emperor Wen. Guo Jie was short, lean, and fierce, and did not drink wine. In his youth he was a covert killer: whenever his feelings were crossed, he personally slew many men. He lent his body to avenge his associates' grudges, harbored fugitives, committed robbery and assault, and in his spare time counterfeited coins and robbed graves — the offenses were beyond counting. By sheer good fortune, he always escaped when cornered, as if meeting with amnesties. As Guo Jie grew older, he changed his ways and became frugal, repaying hostility with kindness, giving generously while expecting nothing in return. Yet his delight in playing the knight-errant only intensified. Though he had saved many lives and never boasted of it, the violent streak rooted in his heart would still erupt over the slightest provocation, as before.

The Grand Historian says: I observed Guo Jie — his appearance was below average, and his speech was unremarkable. Yet throughout the realm, whether worthy or unworthy, whether they knew him or not, all admired his reputation. Whenever people spoke of knight-errants, they cited him by name. A proverb says: 'Can a man's reputation ever match his appearance? Is there any end to it!' Alas, what a pity!